Anyone who
has read much of anything on this website has at least noticed the name, if
not gathered that I hold a deep respect and admiration for the late Colonel
"Bull" Miller. How Colonel Bill and I became friends, and he
became my mentor is already amply covered in the beginning of my book, so I
won't rehash that here. Suffice it to say, that I loved this man like a
father. "Bull" Miller got his nickname because of his large
size. Bill was large inside as well as outside. This fierce
warrior who had fought three wars and devoted his life to the service of his
country, also had a gentle side to him that rarely failed to win people
over. Bill was a natural-born diplomat as well as a warrior. He
was also very intelligent, as well as truly humble. He never wanted to
take credit for things, and would instead give the credit to others.

As this
website nears the end of it's third year online, I thought that it is high
time to give my old friend some of his due. You see, without knowing
it, it was Bill who gave me the idea for creating this website to begin
with. I began using computers for telecommunications long before there
was an internet, or even Windows software. Communications with the
public was limited to the printed word. My goal was to share the
history of "Patton's Troubleshooters" with as many people worldwide
as possible, in order to make sure they were never again forgotten.
There was no way that I could produce and sell enough printed books to
accomplish this lofty goal. Colonel Bill and I discussed many ideas for
how I could continue, short of winning the lottery. Nothing seemed
quite right. Colonel Bill's son had bought him a computer. I
suggested that Bill use his computer to link to mine so that I could send him
some files. Bill had never considered the practical uses for such a
idea, thinking of computers more as isolated, fancy typewriters.

The internet
had just come into existence, but few people were actually using it
yet. Bill asked me what I thought about this new "internet
thing". I explained that I thought it was a great idea, if only
enough people came online. I got to thinking that if it did in fact
become more commonplace, it could become a great communications tool, and
might just be what I had been seeking. I shelved the idea in the back
of my mind, and got on with life. In April 1999 I went to Nashville,
TN. for a business meeting. On my way home to Kansas City, I drove past
Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1943, when the 702nd Tank Battalion Red
Devils were there, it was called Camp Campbell. The Red Devils were
born and raised (trained) there. As I drove up the interstate alongside
the fort, the sun was just setting, leaving the hills and woods shrouded in
ghostly shadows. I could almost see old Sherman tanks moving amongst
the trees. The mental image was profound, and left me with
goose-pimples. I couldn't help but think about Colonel Bill, and could
almost feel his presence. I promised myself to call him when I got home
and tell him about it. He'd get a chuckle out of it, and probably be
reminded of a great story or two about Campbell, and we would have yet
another warm conversation as friends do. I always enjoyed talking with
Bill. In fact, I had talked to him a week earlier, and we had a good
talk. He had informed me that his knee was giving him fits, but he was
fine otherwise. He did surprise me by saying he wouldn't be attending
any more Blue Ridge Reunions. I didn't understand that. I assumed
that maybe someone had pissed him off, and he didn't want to discuss it, so I
let it drop.

When I
returned home from the Nashville trip, I called Bill to tell him about my
experience. I was shocked to hear his ex-wife answer the phone.
She didn't live there, and I couldn't imagine why she was answering his
phone. I asked for Bill, and she curtly informed me that he had died,
been cremated and had his ashes spread at sea. Evidently, he had
suffered a sudden heart attack and died. I was crushed to learn my
friend was gone so suddenly. Life went on, and I soon found myself
facing the loss of my mother a year later. Two years later, I resigned
from my job with an heir search firm. I decided to start a research
services company of my own. By this point, the internet had grown
tremendously, and showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon. I knew
that to compete, my research company would need a website. I bought the
domain and hired the hosting service. I created a little one-page site
that announced to the world "The Troubleshooters Research Services
Company was in business!" Big deal. Who wants to hire a
research company based upon a one-page ad, without knowing what kind of
experience you have, right? Well, I created two more pages, that listed
my accomplishments. One of the biggest accomplishments centered around
the history project I had been working on since 1985.

"Bull" Miller's Crew, 1943

Suddenly, it
dawned on me! Without realizing it, I had given myself the chance to do
what Colonel Bill and I discussed. I had all this web space I'd paid
for, I had just taught myself how to create a website, and here was the
perfect media to reach people worldwide, and tell them about "Patton's
Troubleshooters"! In my mind, I could almost hear Colonel Bill's
chuckle. At that point, this website changed. It's whole reason
for being changed. I changed. We are now getting ready to begin
our fourth year online, and the site keeps growing! I credit my old
friend Colonel Bill for inspiring me. If it weren't for him, I may
never have gone beyond that one pitiful page, and all the help I have been
able to give to people, at no charge, would never have happened. I'd
like to tell you more about my old friend and mentor. The following is
from his official US Army Biography:

"Colonel
William B. Miller was born 29 June, 1919 in Clarksburg, W.V. He
received a B.S. Degree in Education from the University of Georgia. His
military education included the Associate Course, Command and General Staff
College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1956, Nuclear Weapons Employment Course
#6, US Artillery and Missile School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1964, Military
Advisor Institute, Washington D.C. in May 1968, and United States Army
Management School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia in January 1971.

Colonel
Miller entered military service 21 October, 1942 and served in an enlisted
status until May 1943 when he received his commission after graduating from
OCS at Fort Knox, Ky. He was then assigned to Company B, 702nd Tank
Battalion, Camp Campbell, Ky., where he served as Platoon Leader and Company
Commander (June 1943-June 1945). He next served as Company Commander,
Company B, 805th Replacement Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky from June
1945-October 1945. He was in civilian status from October 1945 until
October 1950. He then served as Registrar and Instructor in the Reserve
Command and General Staff School, Fort Meade, Md. From October 1950-June
1951. From July 1951-November 1952, he was assigned with the 31st
Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, Headquarters 8th Army in Korea as Company
Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, and Regimental S2 and S3. He
was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia from November 1952 until June 1954, and
served as an Instructor and Training Publication Officer in the Army
Extension Course Department. He attended the Command and General Staff
College from June-December 1956 [Ironically, he wasn't aware then, that just
blocks away from him in the Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, his first
Platoon Sergeant and friend, my uncle, S/Sgt. Frank L. Ream Jr. lay
buried]. He departed for France in December 1956 and was assigned to
Operations Division of G3, HQ COMZ. He returned to the States in
November 1959 and served as Operations Intelligence Officer for the Assistant
Chief of Staff, Department of the Army, Washington D.C. until October 1962.

His next
assignment was Operations Intelligence Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency,
Washington D.C. October 1961-June 1964). From July 1964-June 1965, he
served as Operations Intelligence Officer, Eighth US Army. He arrived
at Fort Jackson in August 1965 and was assigned as Commanding Officer, 3rd
Battalion, 1st Training Brigade until 30 June 1966. He then assumed
duties as Commander, US Army Reception Station. On 1 June 1967, Colonel
Miller organized and assumed command of the US Army Personnel Center, which
was composed of the US Army Reception Station, US Army Overseas Replacement
Station, US Army Transfer Station and a Returnee Reassignment Station located
in Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, SC. In July 1968, he was
assigned to the Military Advisory Group, Athens, Greece, where he initially
became Chief, Operations, Plans and Training, and later became Deputy Chief,
US Army Section of the MAG. He returned to the States in November 1970
and was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in December of that year.
On 7 February, 1971, Colonel Miller assumed command of the Committee Group,
Army Training Center, Fort Campbell, Ky." Colonel Miller retired
from military service out of Florida, and lived until his death in Redington
Beach, Florida. He organized the 702nd Tank Battalion Red Devils
Association, and arranged reunions of the Red Devils each year, until passing
the reigns down to younger men. He was a member of the 80th Division
Blue Ridge Association, and was the only member of the 702nd to attend most of
the Blue Ridge Reunions. Many of the Red Devils felt unwelcome at the
Blue Ridge Reunions, and in the division veteran's association. Colonel
Miller persisted to the end in trying to bridge the gap of understanding
between infantry and tankers, brothers in arms.

When I asked
Colonel Bill for an autographed photo of him, he gave me this. It had
his autograph, and he was in it (left), but he considered it more interesting
because it was taken on the occasion when he met the famous S.L.A. Marshall,
rather than just being one of him. Bill was a very humble man at heart.

"His
decorations and awards include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
Medal with five campaign stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory
Medal, Korean Service Medal with four stars, United Nations Service Medal,
National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Reserve
Medal, Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters,
Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and six overseas
bars." I pestered Colonel Bill for years to tell me about why he
was awarded his first Bronze Star in World War Two, when he was Company
Commander of B Company, 702nd Tank Battalion. Humble man that he was,
he never would tell me. I found out later, that the Battalion Commander
of 3rd Battalion, Major Karl Neussner, put Bill in for the Bronze Star.
Bill was out on the battlefield, leading his company of tanks, when he
spotted a wounded infantry lieutenant. Bill ordered his driver to go
near the body of the wounded man, and under intense mortar, artillery and
direct fire, picked up the infantry officer and carried him back to the
medics at the command post. That was Bill. Always cool as ice
under fire. He didn't want to talk about it, because in his mind, he
was only doing what needed to be done, and he didn't need thanks for
that. He knew that if the situation were reversed, that infantryman
likely would have done the same for him. That is how Bill saw
things. He didn't consider himself a hero. But he was a hero to
me, and to many others who were lucky to know him.

Recently, I
made a new friend. I was familiar with his name through the Blue Ridge
Service Magazine, and I remembered Colonel Bill spoke fondly of him as a
fellow member of the Florida Chapter of the Blue Ridge Assn., as well as the
VBOB Chapter. The man is Gerald V. "Virgil" Myers, G Company,
317th Regiment, who served on the Executive Council for the 80th Division
Assn., and is currently Commander of 80th Post #47, Florida, and President of
Chapter #32, VBOB, West Florida. Virgil wrote to me recently, asking my
help in making an announcement on the website. I was happy to lend a hand.
Virgil and I began talking about Colonel Miller, whom we both counted as a
dear friend. Virgil wrote "I didn't know Col. Miller during my
time in service, but met him at one of the 80th Div. Reunions and become very
good friends with him over the years that followed. My first combat was
at Sivry, France, about 12 miles SW of Pont A Mousson. That was a
frightening 2 days for this naive new GI. 168 of us went into Sivry
--the second evening we were told to pull out, and only 40 of us walked out,
amidst artillery and mortar fire. I do remember Farebersviller as if it
was yesterday. I don't have any pictures since a camera was just excess
baggage for foot soldier to carry. Actually a camera was the last thing
I was thinking about at that time. When I arrived at the 317th Inf., I
remember the fellows talking about Gen. McBride's failure as a leader in
serious situations, but accepted his problems because he was a General and
had pull in the Army, they thought. …I'm glad you were able to know
Col. Miller; he was one of my favorite people."

"The
following poem was read to our VBOB Chapter 32, just a meeting or two before
he passed away. I thought you might enjoy it. It was as if he
knew something was going to happen to him.

MISS ME---BUT LET ME GO---

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little, but not for long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared.

Miss me-- but let me go.

For this is a journey

That we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all a part of the Master plan -

A step on the road to home

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows

In doing good deeds.

Miss Me---but Let Me Go.

- - Author Unknown

I was going
through some material tonight for our next VBOB Meeting, and come across the
above poem, with a note from Col. Bill saying "This copy is for you,
Virgil". I just wanted to share it with his friends."

I would like
to thank Virgil for sharing this with us. I can just see Bill Miller
reading that. That was Bill; ever the warrior, but always putting
others first. Somewhere up there, I know Bill is watching all this and
smiling. He's probably embarrassed at the attention I have drawn on him
here, but I think everyone who knew him would agree it is justified.
I'll "Miss Him, But Let Him Go" until we meet again. Thanks
Colonel Bill! You made a world of difference! Mission
Accomplished.

After
writing and publishing this piece, I got the following message from former
Corporal John "Bucky" Weaver. "Bucky" served under
the then Lt. "Bull" Miller during training stateside, and in combat
until just before the Moselle battles, when he was injured and sent to the
hospital in England. "Bucky" was my uncle's Tank Gunner, and
right hand. About Colonel Miller, Bucky says: "He was truly a GI's
officer. In camp he played touch football and softball with the
enlisted men and in combat he was fearless. He was the first one I
crawled to when our tanks were hit at Argentan and, as we lay in the grass
while tanks were burning, we could see General McBride, yards away,
chastising Capt. Stover as the latter refused to bring another platoon
through the same trap. You know the rest of the story."